Suggest an approach to suspend a laptop, I Have Doubts on RAM lifespan

Hardware
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Hello Friends

For a laptop with Linux Ubuntu Desktop installed with 16GB.

When the OS is send to “suspend” (systemctl suspend) and is wake up when the laptop’s lid is opened

According with your experience and knowledge

When the laptop is send to suspend, is wise have the RAM free as possible?, I mean have all the most “heavy” programs closed. For example 2G/16GB

or Does it not matter? Therefore suspending the laptop with either 8GB/16GB or 12GB/16GB

My concern is about if is suspended the laptop with a good amount of RAM: it would affect the time life of the RAM itself

Just in case the RAM are Kingston

Thanks in advance

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I dont think freeing ram clears it to all zeros, so under suspend I believe it would still contain data and have power.

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Copilot says:

When an Ubuntu laptop goes into suspend mode (also known as Suspend-to-RAM or ACPI state S3), it keeps the RAM powered to preserve the contents of the memory. This mode saves significant power by putting most of the system components into a low-power state, but the RAM remains powered to retain its data.

In contrast, hibernation (Suspend-to-Disk or ACPI state S4) writes the contents of the RAM to disk and then powers off the system completely. When the system is resumed, the data is read back from the disk into RAM.

So, in suspend mode, the RAM is powered the whole time to maintain the system state.

If you have any other questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!

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One of the benefits of old fashioned core memory was that it retained the data when powered off.

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I wasn’t aware that RAM chips wear out.

SSD’s, which are a different kind of semiconductor than RAM, have a finite number of lifetime writes and can, in theory, wear out. I’ve had two SSD’s fail over the years but I don’t know if overuse was the cause of either failure.

I don’t worry about the state of RAM, I just close the laptop lid.

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Most electronic items are subject to random failure rather than wearing out.
I have no idea if it is better to leave ram powered on or off. I suspect powered on may be better because the heat would keep moisture away.

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Like all electrical components in theory the ram will wear out, kingston one of the main makers of ram suggest a lifetime of 200,000 operating hours so around 12 years … but I have never experianced worn out ram. Usually if they are going to fail its as new installs, but think i have only experianced that once down to faulty translort rather than maker error.

Ssd are more likely to fail but that is down to its makeup rather than the maker.

But your memory use is strange

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I have never hear of Ram wearing out. But like anything, it can fail. Over the past 30 years, I had to replace a few Ram sticks. I agree with Neville, that clearing Ram will have no affect on the wear of Ram. If you are concern of wear and tear of Ram just power off the laptop.
No power, no wear.

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But that strikes a different issue, which we will not agree on, should you leave equipment powered on or switch it off ?

Bath tub principal against electric surge…

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Huge thanks to all for the replies

Neville

I dont think freeing ram clears it to all zeros, so under suspend I believe it would still contain data and have power.

Yes, even if some zeros are applied or not, my concern was if there is no difference having the laptop being suspended or not. The RAM is receiving power and is almost full. It for the scenario 12G/16GB. So it would make exhausted the RAM about its time life?

I have no idea if it is better to leave ram powered on or off. I suspect powered on may be better because the heat would keep moisture away.

The city environment is an important point, if the city has a “dry weather”. It is good to avoid have rust in any kind of “metal”

pdecker

When an Ubuntu laptop goes into suspend mode (also known as Suspend-to-RAM or ACPI state S3), it keeps the RAM powered to preserve the contents of the memory.

Should we assume it happens for other Linux distributions?

This mode saves significant power by putting most of the system components into a low-power state, but the RAM remains powered to retain its data.

Ok, but again, for the scenario 12G/16GB. So it would make exhausted the RAM about its time life?

In contrast, hibernation (Suspend-to-Disk or ACPI state S4) writes the contents of the RAM to disk and then powers off the system completely. When the system is resumed, the data is read back from the disk into RAM.

Agree, but Should we assume if it is done periodically for the scenario of 12G/16GB it would harm the SSD time life?

So, in suspend mode, the RAM is powered the whole time to maintain the system state.

Again: my concern was if there is no difference having the laptop being suspended or not. Thus for the scenario 12G/16GB. So it would make exhausted the RAM about its time life?

Don Karon

SSD’s, which are a different kind of semiconductor than RAM, have a finite number of lifetime writes and can, in theory, wear out.

Yes, and it is sad. Would be fantastic have SSD practically with Zero failures. I mean a durability for 15/20 years

Paul

Like all electrical components in theory the ram will wear out, kingston one of the main makers of ram suggest a lifetime of 200,000 operating hours so around 12 years …

Very interesting. I didn’t know that information

Ssd are more likely to fail but that is down to its makeup rather than the maker.

Yes, and that’s sad too

But your memory use is strange

Just a simple research about if having 12GB/16GB would affect the RAM time life. It if is kept it always practically with 12GB in use: suspended or not

Howard

Over the past 30 years, I had to replace a few Ram sticks.

And why happened that “failures”?

I agree with Neville, that clearing Ram will have no affect on the wear of Ram.

Maybe, but I thought is better have “zeros” against something taking resources in the RAM itself. I hope you see my point

To all

Thus if a laptop is suspended for many hours or even for a couple of days as a weekend: and with the scenario of 12GB/16GB, does not matter. Right?

Thank You

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I would agree with that

Plus would add the size of ram is not a factor to influence this

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We could start a whole new thread on this subject. The reasons for and against.
Power off or suspend?

I suspend during the day, but power off at night.

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As howard suggested

New topic

Power saving against leaving on or on standby.

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No disrespect, but no, I do not understand. A zero is “something” stored in Ram.
My thinking. Take 2 buckets. Place clear water in one, place muddy water in the other one.
The bucket with clear water is a “0”, the bucket with muddy water is a “1”.
Both buckets have something stored in them. Which one is going to wear out first?

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Not to mention that while everything’s powered up and idle, component temperatures remain stable, reducing the expansion/contraction from start-up (components heat up to operating temperature)/shut-down (components cool down to ambient room temperature). I keep all three of my computers powered on 24/7, and prevent/disabled hibernation/suspension, sleep, etc. I’ve tried both my always fully powered on mode, and the standard Microsoft ‘green’ so-called power saving mode, and the difference in my monthly power consumption is less than $5.00(US)/month, so there is a difference, but to my way of thinking, the extension on component life span outweighs that minimal cost (I don’t purchase cheap components when I build a new desktop, and I never choose a laptop based on cost, I want the best performance I can afford).

My2Cents,

Ernie

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